The Royal Shakespeare Company, in collaboration with Manchester International Festival, Philharmonic Orchestra and Marshmallow Laser Feast, today announce Dream, a new live performance that uses motion capture to explore how audiences could experience live performance in the future in addition to a regular visit to a theatre. 

Dream was due to be performed last spring as an in-person and online live performance and has now been adapted for online audiences whilst the theatres remain closed. The production is part of the Audience of the Future Demonstrator project, which is supported by the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which is delivered by UK Research and Innovation. 

Inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dream gives the opportunity for audiences to influence the live performance from home, whilst being able to easily access the show on their mobile, desktop or tablet via the dream.online website. The show uses the latest theatre and gaming technology combined with an interactive score that responds to the actor’s movement during the show. 

Dream is set in a virtual midsummer forest. Puck acts as the guide as audiences are invited to explore the forest, meet the sprites Cobweb, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom and Moth and take an extraordinary journey through a storm. Working with Puck, they must regrow the forest before the dawn. 

The online event, which runs at 50 minutes long, will be a shared experience between the audience members and the seven actors. Audiences can choose to purchase a £10 ticket, which allows them to interact with the production and influence the world of the actors, or choose to view the performance for free without taking part. 

Artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gregory Doran, said: “What’s brilliant about Dream is the innovation at play. An audience member sitting at home influencing the live performance from wherever they are – that’s exciting. It’s not a replacement to being in the space with the performers but it opens up new opportunities. By bringing together specialists in on-stage live performance with that of gaming and music you see how much they have in common. For instance, the RSC’s deep understanding of scripted drama combined with Marshmallow Laser Feast’s innovation in creative tech brings thrilling results.”

Tickets for Dream go on sale today at 12pm and can be purchased here.